You may have experienced the sandstone sea caves along the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore while kayaking or swimming during the hot summer months in Wisconsin. But have you ever seen them in winter?
For the first time in 11 years, these caves were open to the public for winter exploration. The incredible ice caves along Meyers Beach in northern Wisconsin drew thousands of visitors who braved hazardous conditions to witness what officials are calling a “rare phenomenon.”
However, if you didn’t have the chance to see this once-in-a-lifetime event, it may soon be too late.
The National Park Service announced this week that access to the ice caves would be closed due to an imminent winter storm. Park officials indicated that strong winds could potentially break up the ice near the shore and wash it out into Lake Superior.
They will be monitoring conditions in collaboration with the National Weather Service office in Duluth. It took an extended period of sub-zero temperatures and calm winds to create the ice shelf that allowed people to visit the ice caves.
Unfortunately, the Park Service indicated that it is unlikely these conditions will return in time for more ice to form before spring.
How to get to the Apostle Islands
The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is located at the northern tip of Wisconsin’s Bayfield Peninsula on Lake Superior. Visitors must hike approximately 2 miles round-trip on the frozen lake to access the ice caves.
The caves only open when weather conditions meet minimum safety thresholds, as they are accessible only when the lake is frozen.